I enjoy writing articles about

various topics on history and the collections that I have put into my museum. I have been told by so many of the readers that they have also enjoyed the articles and look forward to what I will write about next. Well, this week I would like to tell you about a project that is very special me and also ask for your help.

When I built the Louisiana Treasures Museum, I made a decision to dedicate a memorial wall to police officers killed in the line of duty in Louisiana. The memorial wall, proudly named the “Gone But Not Forgotten Wall,” honors these fallen officers. Having been in law enforcement all my life and with a family history of police officers, I feel that when an officer is killed in the line of duty, he or she has given the ultimate sacrifice for a career felt strongly about. We all know they didn’t go into law enforcement for the pay or gratitude. My wife, also a retired police lieutenant, and I feel that not enough is done to honor these officers that have been killed in the line of duty.

Records dating as far back as 1883 show 423 police officers have been killed in the line of duty in Louisiana to date. While planning this memorial we visited memorials from Florida to Washington, D.C., from the North to the South. We found that most of the memorials only have a name tag on the wall, no photographs or facts about the death of the officer. We did not feel that this was enough for an officer that gave his/her life defending us. On our memorial wall, we have a 5×7 photograph of the officer and also a description of the incident that took the officer’s life, along with the agency name, length of service and family info.

Now, we need your help. Out of the 423 officers that have been killed in the line of duty, I have only about 100 photographs on this wall. As you can tell, the problem is getting photographs of the officers that have been killed. With the support of the fallen officers’ agencies, I have obtained photographs of all the officers that were with the Louisiana State Police, the St, John Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

If you know of an officer that has been killed in the line of duty and have contact with a family member or friend that may have a photograph, please contact me so that we can get this officer on the memorial wall. The information about the officer’s death has already been placed on the wall for the visitors to read; we need to get the photographs. You may have or know someone that can help us with this project. Please give me a call at 225-294-2863.  I receive no funding for this memorial and operate the museum on the $3 dollar admission charge to pay the utilities.

St. John Parish has lost six officers, with the first being in 1936. Constable Ignace Rousselle was shot and killed in the line of duty. Deputy Sheriff Harry Anthony Troxlair Sr.’s patrol unit was struck by a train while answering a call in 1969. In 1984, detective Lt. Sherman Walker was shot and killed in an ambush in front of his home. Deputy Sheriff Barton Joseph Granier was killed in the line of duty in 1996, at 2 a.m. by an armed robbery suspect. In 2002, Code Enforcement Officer Edmond J. Songy Jr. was struck and killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic at an accident scene on Interstate 10. Capt. Octavio Gonzalez was shot and killed in 2006 while participating in a manhunt for two suspects who had shot and wounded another deputy minutes earlier. All of these officers’ photos have been placed on the memorial wall.

We also have other police-related items along with a jail from 1906 that was portable and one that was built in 1853 that was pulled by six horses and held 12 prisoners. Anyone wishing to donate any police-related items to the memorial, please give us a call.

May 15 is National Peace Officers’ Day, one day during National Police Week that John F. Kennedy proclaimed a holiday in 1962. Flags across the country are flown at half-staff, and these officers are honored. But remember, to shake a hand and say, “Thank you” to the officers you might pass along the way any time of the year, for they are working to protect and serve you.

Louisiana Treasures Museum and Memorial Center is located on Highway 22 West of Ponchatoula. For more information call Wayne at 225-294-8352 for hours of operation or to schedule group tours.

Wayne Norwood is a lieutenant with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Department and owner and operator of the Louisiana Treasures Museum.